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Min Aung Hlaing

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Min Aung Hlaing is a prominent Burmese politician and a retired army general. He has held many powerful titles in Myanmar since seizing control in 2021. He served as the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services from 2011 to 2026. Since the 2021 coup, he has also been the Chairman of the State Administration Council. He served as the 12th prime minister from 2021 to 2025. Currently, he acts as the president and leads the State Security and Peace Commission. His leadership has significantly altered the political landscape of Myanmar.

2021 Myanmar Armed Forces Day 05
2021 Myanmar Armed Forces Day 05

Min Aung Hlaing was born on July 3, 1956, in Minbu. His parents, Khin Hlaing and Hla Mu, were both teachers from Dawei. His family moved to Mandalay when he was five years old. He completed his high school education in Rangoon in 1972. He then studied law at Rangoon Arts and Science University from 1973 to 1974. After three attempts, he was admitted to the Defence Services Academy in 1974. He graduated from the academy in 1977.

Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General

His military career involved a slow rise through various command positions. He served in the No. 313 Light Infantry Battalion early in his career. In 1979, he served as a Lieutenant and Intelligence Officer during Operation Min Yan Aung. This operation was an offensive against the Communist Party of Burma. In 1989, he was a Captain during the Battle of Kawmoora. During this battle, he reportedly carried a Buddha statue for protection. He later served as a Major commanding the No. 369 Light Infantry Battalion.

Major General Tatmadaw
Major General Tatmadaw

Min Aung Hlaing eventually reached the highest levels of military authority. In 2011, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief by Senior General Than Shwe. During the period of civilian rule from 2011 to 2021, he worked to protect military influence. He oversaw several military reforms as the country moved toward a quasi-democracy. However, he also worked to prevent peace processes with various ethnic armed groups. By 2013, he had reached the rank of senior general.

Vice Senior General
Vice Senior General

A major turning point occurred following the 2020 Myanmar general election. The National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory. Min Aung Hlaing claimed there was widespread electoral fraud and voting irregularities. Despite these claims, he led a military coup to seize power in 2021. This action removed the democratically elected government from power. The coup led to mass protests across the country.

Protest against military coup (9 Feb 2021, Hpa-An, Kayin State, Myanmar) (1)
Protest against military coup (9 Feb 2021, Hpa-An, Kayin State, Myanmar) (1)

The coup triggered a period of intense conflict and civil war. Min Aung Hlaing ordered a crackdown to suppress demonstrations against his rule. His military forces have used airstrikes on civilians and scorched earth tactics. A United Nations fact-finding mission found he was involved in the Rohingya genocide. In 2024, he activated a law to draft 60,000 young people into the military. This period has seen the first use of the death penalty in decades.

Aerial view of a burned Rohingya village in Rakhine state, Myanmar - September 2017
Aerial view of a burned Rohingya village in Rakhine state, Myanmar - September 2017

Min Aung Hlaing's government faces significant international pressure and isolation. Many nations have imposed extensive sanctions due to human rights abuses and corruption. These sanctions have made Myanmar a pariah state in the eyes of many. In response, he has relied on cooperation with Russia, China, and India. He has resisted influence from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Myanmar as the second-most authoritarian regime in 2022.

Meeting of Sergei Shoigu and Min Aung Hlaing (17 August 2019)
Meeting of Sergei Shoigu and Min Aung Hlaing (17 August 2019)

Controversy also surrounds the business interests of his family. Min Aung Hlaing is a major shareholder in Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL). This is a large conglomerate owned by the army. His son, Aung Pyae Sone, owns several companies, including a national telecoms carrier. His daughter, Khin Thiri Thet Mon, founded a major film studio. These connections have led to scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest. These economic ties remain a central part of his administration's structure.

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🖼️ Images & Media (24)
File:18. Myanmar Army SGEN.svg
18. Myanmar Army SGEN.svg
File:The Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on July 29, 2015.jpg
The Commander-in-Chief of Defence...
File:President Duterte Meets Myanmar President U Htin Kiaw, Minister For Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and Myanmar-based Filipino Companies 09.jpg
President Duterte Meets Myanmar President...
File:Shinzo Abe and Min Aung Hlaing 2017 (1).jpg
Shinzo Abe and Min Aung Hlaing 2017 (1).jpg
File:Meeting of Sergei Shoigu and Min Aung Hlaing (17 August 2019).jpg
Meeting of Sergei Shoigu and Min Aung...
File:Protest against military coup (9 Feb 2021, Hpa-An, Kayin State, Myanmar) (1).jpg
Protest against military coup (9 Feb...
File:2021 Myanmar Armed Forces Day 05.jpg
2021 Myanmar Armed Forces Day 05.jpg
File:Myanmar civil war.svg
Myanmar civil war.svg
File:Vyacheslav Volodin and Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing on March 4, 2025.jpg
Vyacheslav Volodin and Myanmar Min Aung...
File:PM Modi meets the Senior General of Myanmar, Mr. Min Aung Hlaing (PIB-181211).jpg
PM Modi meets the Senior General of...
File:PM Narendra Modi attends the 6th BIMSTEC Summit at Bangkok, in Thailand on April 04, 2025.jpg
PM Narendra Modi attends the 6th BIMSTEC...
File:Aerial view of a burned Rohingya village in Rakhine state, Myanmar - September 2017.JPG
Aerial view of a burned Rohingya village...

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